#20 JMU Hosts Texas State in Sun Belt Conference Opener Saturday

James Madison Dukes (12-0, 0-0 SBC) vs. Texas State Bobcats (6-6, 0-0 SBC)

December 30, 2023 - 2:00 p.m. EST
Harrisonburg, Va. - Atlantic Union Bank Center
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HARRISONBURG, Va. – The #20 James Madison Dukes (12-0) are set to face off against the Texas State Bobcats (6-6) at the Atlantic Union Bank Center in their Sun Belt Conference opener on Saturday, December 30th at 2 p.m. EST.

The Dukes have enjoyed an exceptional start to the season, achieving a program-record 12-0 start so far. Notable victories over in-state rival Old Dominion and a recent road triumph against Morgan State have solidified JMU's status as one of the three remaining undefeated teams in the nation, alongside #3 Houston and #24 Ole Miss. As the year comes to a close, this game serves as the final chapter of a remarkable 2023, preparing the Dukes for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in 2024.

Last Time Out:

In their latest outing against Morgan State, the Dukes secured their twelfth-straight victory with an 89-75 win.
Terrence Edwards Jr. leading all players in both points (29) and rebounds (9). He also scored his 1,000th point in the victory and was named Sun Belt Player of the Week this week.
Coach Mark Byington earned his 200th career win.
The Dukes continued their dominance on the offensive side. They continue to lead Division I for the fourth consecutive week with 92.6 points per game.

Scouting the Bobcats:

Texas State (6-6) faces a challenging schedule. Three of the final four remaining unbeaten teams in the country (#3 Houston, #20 JMU, and #24 Ole Miss) were on their schedule for the first half of the season.
Despite setbacks, the Bobcats demonstrated resilience, with guard Dylan Dawson posing a threat with his outside shooting ability.
Dylan Dawson is a skilled outside shooter who aims to capitalize on his scoring opportunities, especially from three-point range. He scored a career-high 23 points against Sam Houston, while shooting 61.5% from the field (8-13), and 50% from three (5-10). #3 Houston held him to just 4 points on 12.5% shooting from the floor (1-8).
After missing the first six games due to injury, Jordan Mason has emerged as the team's leading scorer. He earned Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week after averaging 19.0 points, 5.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 steals in Week 6.
Freshman point guard Kaden Gumbs is identified as the key to the Bobcats' engine. The first-year is showing lots of potential, but is shooting just 40% from the field. With the Dukes' stifling defense, keep an eye on this matchup to see how Gumbs and the Bobcats handle that pressure.

What's at Stake?

JMU looks to conclude 2023 with a perfect record, capping off an exceptional November (7-0) and unbeaten December (5-0).
This matchup is significant as the Dukes and Bobcats meet for only the second time in their history, with Texas State holding a 1-0 lead from their inaugural encounter last season. Interestingly, that game was the first of the year in 2023 for both teams, while this game on Saturday is the last of 2023.
JMU has a six-game regular season road win streak, marking their best start on the road since the 2015-16 season.
The Dukes aim to maintain their road success against a Texas State team hungry for a statement win.

Don't Miss the Action

Follow @JMUMBasketball on Twitter for live updates. Radio commentary with Dave Riggert can be heard on 92.1 FM / 550 AM and the Varsity Network App. Catch the game live on ESPN+ with David Taylor and Curt Dudley providing commentary. Stay tuned as the Dukes and Bobcats kick off their Sun Belt Conference schedule.

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